Asylum Seekers Deterred from UK by Rwanda Policy, says Home Secretary
The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has stated that the Rwanda policy is already deterring asylum seekers from coming to the UK. According to Cleverly, asylum seekers arriving in the UK have informed the Home Office that others planning on coming "have chosen not to" because of the Rwanda scheme. This comes as the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, claims victory over the asylum backlog.
Government's Efforts to Tackle Backlog and Illegal Migrants
Despite the Prime Minister's claim of victory, startling figures reveal that there is still a remaining backlog of 98,000 asylum cases and around 50,000 illegal migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels. The government has been working to address the backlog of older asylum cases in the system, but more than 4,500 applications are yet to have an initial decision taken on them.
Home Secretary's Determination to Stop the Boats
James Cleverly, while speaking to Sky News, emphasized his determination to stop the boats and break the business model of people smugglers. He mentioned working with international partners, including France, Albania, Romania, and other European countries. Cleverly also highlighted the importance of having a meaningful deterrent, stating that the Rwanda policy, which has faced legal challenges, is already working and will have an even stronger deterrent effect once fully implemented.
Progress and Opposition on the Rwanda Policy
In response to the Supreme Court ruling that the Rwanda policy was unlawful, the Prime Minister signed a new treaty with Rwanda and introduced new legislation deeming it a safe country. The proposed legislation is moving closer to becoming law, although opposition from backbenchers is expected during later parliamentary stages. The Prime Minister had made stopping the boats one of his promises to the British people.
Meeting Targets and Clearing the Backlog
The Home Office released figures showing that 4,537 legacy applications are still awaiting an initial decision as of December 28. The government has faced criticism from Labour for making false claims about meeting targets, as the number of legacy claims processed fell short of the initial goal. However, James Cleverly insisted that the government has processed all 92,000 legacy claims and made final adjudications in the majority of cases. The remaining complex cases involve age verification, serious medical issues, and suspected past convictions.
Current Backlog Status and PM's Statement
The non-legacy backlog of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision stood at 94,062 on December 28, representing a 3% increase from November 30. The overall backlog, including both legacy and non-legacy cases, is 98,599, which is 10% lower than the end of November and 29% lower than the peak in February 2023. In a tweet, the Prime Minister stated that the government has cleared over 112,000 asylum cases with a lower grant rate than last year, as part of their plan to stop the boats.
